Newcastle United, Aston Villa & West Ham all in agreement over latest Premier League decision

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Premier League clubs have voted on whether or not to scrap VAR.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ proposal to scrap VAR has fallen flat after Premier League clubs voted in favour of keeping it.

All 20 top-flight clubs met at the league’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday, and only Wolves voted to remove VAR. Newcastle United and the other 18 clubs voted to keep VAR but agreed that the PGMOL. the Premier League and clubs all have important roles to play in improving the system and its reputation.

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A Premier League statement read: “As part of ongoing work to improve VAR, six key areas were focused on as part of discussions with clubs:

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“1) Maintaining a high threshold for VAR intervention to deliver greater consistency and less interruptions to the flow of the game.

“2) Reducing delays to the game, primarily through the introduction of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) and the maintained high threshold for VAR intervention.

“3) Improving fan experience through a reduction in the delays, in-stadium announcements from referees after a post-VAR change of decision and where possible, an enhanced offering of big screen replays to include all VAR interventions.

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“4) Working with PGMOL on the implementation of more robust VAR training to improve consistency, including an emphasis on speed of process while preserving accuracy.

“5) Increasing transparency and communication around VAR – including expanded communications from Premier League Match Centre and through broadcast programming such as "Match Officials Mic’d Up".

“6) The delivery of a fan and stakeholder VAR communication campaign, which will seek to further clarify VAR’s role in the game to participants and supporters.”

Previously, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: “I’m the same on VAR where I’ve always been, I like the power being with the referee, even if they miss penalties like today. For me, offsides yes but give more powers back to the referee.”

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Keeping VAR means that Semi-Automated Offside Technology will be introduced in the autumn of 2024 as planned.

The technology will provide quicker and consistent placement of the virtual offside line based on optical player tracking, and will produce high-quality broadcast graphics to ensure an enhanced in-stadium and broadcast experience for supporters. 

The statement notes “the Premier League and PGMOL will continue to lobby IFAB to allow greater flexibility in the Laws of the Game to allow live video and audio broadcast during VAR reviews.”

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